Monday, June 21, 2010

Colfax Avenue in Denver has been called the longest street in America. I'm not sure if that is true, but I do know that it is one of the most varied, eclectic streets I've been on. It started in the 1800s as the main thoroughfare from the east into Denver and on to Golden, but once the Interstates were built, it has taken on a life of its own. Years of changing demographics, demolition, reconstruction, and (frankly) poverty brought Colfax from its heyday to the depth of the 80s, when it was known for drug dealers, prostitutes, and the destitute. It has rebounded a bit since then, but still has a reputation that is hard to shake.

(Note: I am addicted to wikipedia)

As you travel down Colfax, you'll see many things. You'll see thrift stores, seedy motels, the Denver Mint, and lots and lots of restaurants. Not just any restaurants, either. Colfax and its character has drawn the kinds of restaurants that are hard to find in the rest of Denver. There are easily half a dozen Ethiopian restaurants, for example, in a 5 mile stretch.

My goal with this blog is to learn about Colfax by eating at the restaurants that line it. I hope that by eating my way from Broadway out, I'll not only get a lot of good meals and opportunities to try new foods, but hopefully I'll also find that there is more to Colfax than there seems.